News and Events

The current tenor nationally and recurrent displays of discrimination, bias and sometimes violence that permeate news headlines have resulted in trying times not only for our country, but also for those of us who live, study and work on college campuses. Though Penn State strives to create a diverse and inclusive environment for all, we – like any institution of higher education – are not immune to the efforts of those who bring hate and prejudice to our community. - [ More ]

Lonnie G. Bunch III, historian, author, curator, educator and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., will give a talk titled “The Challenge of Building a National Museum,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, in the Freeman Auditorium of the HUB-Robeson Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Bunch has spent nearly 30 years in the museum field where he is regarded as one of the nation’s leading figures in the historical and museum community. As NMAAHC director, he promotes the museum’s mission to help audiences see African-American history as American history, and provides strategic leadership in areas of fundraising, collections, and academic and cultural partnerships. - [ More ]

As part of Penn State's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, students are invited to participate in “Check Your Blind Spots,” an immersive experience to examine unconscious bias, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, outside the HUB-Robeson Center on Pollock Road. - [ More ]

Months after the deadly far-right rally in Charlottesville, Penn State hosted a faculty panel discussion titled “White Supremacism at Penn State: What it Does, How to Fix It” on Monday, Oct. 23.

The panel, moderated by Professor of English and African American Studies Keith Gilyard, gathered in the Freeman Auditorium and discussed such topics as racism on an administrative level, white privilege, and the role of race in promotion and tenure. - [ More ]

Penn State’s senior faculty mentor will present a faculty forum panel discussion for the Penn State community titled "White Supremacism at Penn State: What it Does, How to Fix It" at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, in Freeman Auditorium in the HUB-Robeson Cultural Center at University Park.

Moderated by Keith Gilyard, senior faculty mentor and Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and African American Studies, the panel will explore the following topics: honest talk on racism, racism as a management issue, white privilege is white exception, and the evaluation process for promotion and tenure. - [ More ]

Connecting students with the resources available to minorities on campus and building a sense of community will be the aim of a Block Party, a group of students is holding from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 3 on the HUB-Robeson Center lawn. - [ More ]

The University’s inaugural “All In” conference took place April 18, featuring speakers who are national leaders in educational equity. Participants from across Pennsylvania had the opportunity to learn more about how other institutions, faculty and staff approach diversity and inclusion at their schools and to share ideas about what can be put into action at Penn State. - [ More ]

As part of its ongoing “All In” initiative, Penn State is partnering with the Ad Council’s national “Love Has No Labels” campaign for an on-campus event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 in the HUB-Robeson Center at the lower level near the entrance to the lawn.

The event will make Penn State the inaugural campus for the university engagement program on behalf of Love Has No Labels produced by the Ad Council, a national organization that selects significant public issues to focus on through communications programs that make a measurable difference in society. Students and others will have a chance to participate in taped video interviews, share their experiences on social media and find out more about both efforts, which are focused on celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion.” - [ More ]

The first ever ‘All In’ Conference took place at The Penn Stater Hotel on Tuesday, and four guest speakers discussed the ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion at Penn State, as well as at other college campuses. - [ More ]

Patricia Silveyra, assistant professor of pediatrics and a research associate in the Penn State College of Medicine, was recognized today (April 18) with the University’s “All In at Penn State” achievement award. Silveyra is one of two recipients of the honor, designed to recognize a student, faculty or staff member for embodying the University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

“The All In award is an important step for the University to recognize individuals for their contributions to Penn State's diversity, equity and inclusion mission,” said Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity. “Both of these award winners have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments, leadership and innovation in working to create an inclusive climate, transforming education and advancing diverse communities.” - [ More ]

Penn State junior and Schreyer Honors College Scholar Candice Crutchfield is a recipient of the “All In at Penn State” achievement award. She was recognized today (April 18) as one of two recipients of the honor, designed to recognize a student, faculty or staff member for embodying the University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. - [ More ]

University President Eric Barron, along with faculty and students, joined together this afternoon to discuss what has been working and not working with the "All In" campaign during a lunch in the HUB-Robeson Center.

According to the "All In" website, the purpose of the campaign is to create a commitment toward a diverse and inclusive campus. The initiative came from Barron and a group of Penn State students who wanted the community to recognize the importance of diversity on campus, according to the "All In" website. - [ More ]

Diversity in higher education will be the focus of a daylong University conference that will provide opportunities for faculty, students and employees to learn from and interact with national leaders in the field of educational equity. Registration is open for the “All In at Penn State Diversity and Inclusion Conference,” which will take place April 18 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel at University Park. - [ More ]

Award will recognize person who embodies commitment to diversity and inclusion

Do you know someone who embodies Penn State’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion? Consider nominating that person for the “All In” at Penn State Achievement Award that will recognize a student, faculty or staff member for demonstrating leadership and inspiring others. - [ More ]

Understanding each other’s differences and learning from them was the focus of a recent forum that brought student leaders together with University officials for conversations to deepen their appreciation of the viewpoints of others. - [ More ]

The panel discussion “The First Amendment and Diversity and Inclusion,” held Oct. 27 in the HUB-Robeson Center’s Freeman Auditorium, is now archived and available for viewing online.

Hosted by Penn State President Eric Barron and Vice Provost for Educational Equity Marcus Whitehurst, the discussion focused on the balance between promoting free speech on campus while ensuring that people from all walks of life can come together and feel included in the Penn State community. - [ More ]

Questions about Penn State’s overall commitment to diversity, including the number of faculty, staff and students on all Penn State campuses that are from traditionally underrepresented groups, dominated the most recent Town Hall meeting held by University leaders. The meeting was planned to focus on diversity and inclusion and there was no shortage of questions on those topics. - [ More ]

Educational equity and diversity, student government, and health plan options for the upcoming year were some of the topics the University Faculty Senate took up during its meeting Tuesday (Oct. 18).

Chairman James Strauss has noted that featuring students and student organizations and including diversity-related topics are among the strategic goals for Faculty Senate meetings this year. On Tuesday, that meant hearing about the College of Engineering’s Multi-Campus Research Experiences for Undergraduates, including presentations by three students who participated, in addition to reports from the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) and the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG). - [ More ]

The Penn State community came together Thursday (Oct. 6) by the hundreds to kick off “All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion” — recognizing the importance of diversity and having an environment that is inclusive and respectful. The 40-minute event was focused on encouraging the community to be “All In.” - [ More ]

The student body of Penn State is a thick blend of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, backgrounds, ages and beliefs. Today, Oct. 6, this community has a chance to come together and celebrate that. - [ More ]

Diversity Champions exemplify an unyielding commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus communities, across academic programs, and at the highest administrative levels. INSIGHT Into Diversity selected institutions that rank in the top tier of past Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipients. - [ More ]

On Oct. 6 the Penn State community will come together to kick off an ongoing University-wide initiative that brings students, faculty and staff together to show their commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment — respectful of everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, abilities, background, veteran’s status, political beliefs, and all the ways we differ. - [ More ]

On the eve of the start of fall classes, multicultural students had the opportunity to hear from Penn State leadership and their peers at the New Student Orientation for Multicultural Students on Aug. 21 in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall. The orientation has been a University tradition for more than two decades. - [ More ]

Students attending the 2016 New Student Orientation for Multicultural Students hold up their cell phones with their lights on at the request of Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for educational equity, on Sunday, Aug. 21, at Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. (Image: Curtis Chan)

Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for educational equity, gets to know one of the numerous students attending the New Student Orientation for Multicultural Students on Aug. 21 in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall. (Image: Curtis Chan)

Penn State has been selected to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education that will allow the University to expand its Talent Search Programs, providing staff who work directly with disadvantaged middle and high school students to help them complete high school and attend college. - [ More ]

Penn State President Eric Barron has appointed a committee to develop recommendations for a comprehensive commemorative that celebrates Penn State’s history of and aspiration to diversity and inclusion across the many facets of the University.- [ More ]

When addressing the graduates at Penn State Schuylkill on Saturday, the keynote speaker advised them to consider their futures and their legacies.

“Think about what your legacy will be personally and professionally,” said Marcus A Whitehurst, Penn State’s vice provost for educational equity, who is based at University Park.

He spoke before this year’s graduates at the campus in Schuylkill Haven and the more than 400 people who crammed into the campus auditorium for a commencement ceremony.

“Through your talents, your caring and your actions, you have been wonderful ambassadors for Penn State. You are leaving Penn State a better place and I’m sincerely hopeful you will have the same impact in whatever community or company that is lucky enough to land you. Take advantage of the opportunities that come before you but, also, think about what you can leave behind,” Whitehurst said. “And I hope that as you go forth from here you will find that giving your time, talents and treasures to others in need will enrich your own life in great measure.” - [ More ]

Penn State earns second Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award. Penn State received its third consecutive national Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The award the only one in the nation that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across campuses. - See more

Penn State earns second Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award Today (Sept. 16) Penn State received its second consecutive national Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The award the only one in the nation that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across campuses.